Bracket structure

ABSTRACT

Shelf structure of the type used in supermarkets and other retail outlets for merchandise display. The shelf structure includes a bracket equipped with hooks at an end thereof adapted to be inserted through openings provided therefor along an upright column secured to a generally vertical support wall, and which column has a sequence of vertically spaced openings adapted to receive such hooks therein to support a shelf at selected elevations. Fasteners removably mounted upon the bracket secure such shelf thereto. The shelf extends between and is carried by a pair of spaced apart brackets respectively mounted upon a pair of such upwardly extending columns.

United States Patent 3,199,822 8/1965 Ruhnke 248/250 3,355,134 11/1967Chesley 248/250 FOREIGN PATENTS 231,650 6/1963 Austria 248/243 779,8133/1968 Canada 211/176 383,576 l/1965 Switzerland.

Primary ExaminerMarion Parsons, Jr. Attorney-Gardner & ZimmermanABSTRACT: Shelf structure of the type used in supermarkets and otherretail outlets for merchandise display. The shelf structure includes abracket equipped with hooks at an end thereof adapted to be insertedthrough openings provided therefor along an upright column secured to agenerally vertical support wall, and which column has a sequence ofvertically spaced openings adapted to receive such hooks therein tosupport a shelf at selected elevations. Fasteners removably mounted uponthe bracket secure such shelf thereto. The shelf extends between and iscarried by a pair of spaced apart brackets respectively mounted upon apair of such upwardly extending columns.

[72] inventor EarlJ. Oliver 555 Montague Ave., San Leandro, Calif. 94577[21] AppLNo. 768,989 [22] Filed 0ct.21, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971[54]- BRACKETSTRUCTURE 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.CI 248/243, 248/250 [51] 1nt.Cl A47f5/04 [50] FieidofSearch248/243, 250, 223,407,408,161;l08/106,107,108; 312/351;211/176 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 857,543 6/1907 Thomas 248/2432,531,251 11/1950 Bruno..... 211/176 2,971,657 2/1961 Zadek 248/2503,054,511 9/1962 Erismann 248/243 59 49 18a 4 i l l f" Tf 60 t] 51 52 41NE 7' Plait. j.

27' a i0 -U 129 PATEN TED FEB23 l9?! m T N E V W BY 8M1 d. Glivar W ba-4A0- ATTORNEYS BRACKET srsuc'runs This invention relates to shelfstructure and, more particu-' larly, to shelf structure especiallysuited for use in merchandise displays such as those presented insupermarkets, drug stores and similar retail outlets.

In environments of the type noted, generally vertical support walls areusually provided along the sidewalls of the room space in which suchretail outlet is located and also on piers or islands disposed atappropriate locations along the floor of such room space, and suchsupport walls are adapted to carry a plurality of shelves upon whichmerchandise is displayed. In the usual instance, upright columns eachhaving a sequence of slots or openings therein oriented in spacedvertical relation are secured to such support walls at spaced locationstherealong and provide a mounting for brackets each equipped with aplurality of hooks insertable into such openings to support the bracketat predetermined or selected elevations. A pair of such brackets has ashelf extending therebetween and supports the same either directly orindirectly through fastener devices that connect such shelf to thebrackets. It a has been found that there is considerable variation inthe distance between the vertically spaced openings in the uprightcolumn from installation to installation and, consequently, it isdifficult to provide a bracket which can accommodate such variation'andthereby'be usable with substantially all uprights irrespective of thedistance between the vertically spaced openings therealong.

In view of the foregoing, an object, among others, of the presentinvention is to provide an improved shelf structure able to quickly andeasily, substantially automatically, accommodate such disparities ordifferences in the distance between successive openings in sequencethereof along a vertical column adapted to have shelf brackets mountedthereon. Another object of the invention is that of providing shelfstructure comprising a bracket equipped with a fixedly located hook andhaving an adjustable latch movably supported thereon which isspring-biased in one direction so as to automatically grip a verticalcolumn upon which the bracket is mounted; such latch being displaceableagainst the biasing force of the spring to any incremental positionnecessary to effect alignment of a hook carried thereby with suchopening in a vertical column. Still another object is that of providinga bracket of the character described having an automatic camming orwedging action to tightly secure the bracket to such vertical columnwhen mounted thereon.

Yet another object is in the provision of shelf structure as indicatedhaving fasteners of improved character adapted to secure a shelf to abracket, and which fasteners cooperate with an associated bracket toconstrain a shelf mounted thereon from longitudinal or horizontaldisplacements relative thereto. Additional objects and advantages,especially as concerns particular features and characteristics of theinvention, will become apparent as the specification develops.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken perspective view illustrating shelf structureembodying the invention in position along a support wall therefor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side view in elevation of the shelf structure,the support wall and upright column mounted thereon being shown insection;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, broken transverse sectional view takenalong the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a broken perspective view illustrating the bracket and latchin spaced apart relation;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the fasteners used to secure awire shelf to one of the brackets; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another bracket used for thispurpose.

The shelf structure of the present invention is adapted to be supportedalong a generally vertical wall therefor such as the upright wall of apier or island upon which merchandise is displayed in a grocery store orother retail outlet. Such a generally vertical support wall is shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and is denoted in general with the numeral 10. Mountedupon the wall 10 along at least one side thereof are a pair of generallyvertical channel-shaped columns or uprights 11 and 12 which may besecured to the wall 10 by any suitable means, as for example, by aplurality of screws 13 and 14 respectively associated therewith.

Each column is provided with a sequence of vertically spaced openingstherealong, and it will be observed that the column 11 has one row ofsuch openings respectively denoted with the numeral 15 and that thecolumn 12 has two transversely spaced parallel rows of openingsrespectively denoted with the numerals 16 and 17. The columns 11 and 12are essentially the sameexcept that the column 12 is about twice thewidth of the column 11 and is intended for use in those instances inwhich a plurality of individual shelves are disposed in side-by-sideadjacency and may support articles which are too heavy to be carried bya single bracket, as will be described hereinafter.

The shelf structure illustrated comprises a pair of brackets 18a and 18bwhich are identical and, accordingly, only one will be described indetail. Referring to FIG. 2 in particular, the bracket 18a is seen to beelongated in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the wall10 or in a generally horizontal direction. Adjacent its rear end, thebracket is equipped with a hook or hook-shaped extension or tongue 19adapted to extend through one of the openings 15 in the associatedchannel and interlockingly engage the same,-as illustrated. Alsoextensible through another opening 15 in the channel 11 is a hook orhook-shaped tongue or extension 20 provided by a latch21 movably carriedby the bracket 18a for generally vertical displacements with respectthereto.

More particularly in this respect, the bracket 18a is provided with apair of longitudinally spaced slots 22 and 23, the latter of which isslightly longer than the former (see FIG. 4). The slots 22 and 23 aresubstantially parallel, are disposed adjacent the rear end portion ofthe bracket, and are generally normal to the upper edge 24 of thebracket, as is most evident in FIG. 2. The latch 21 (see FIG. 3 inparticular) is somewhat U-shaped in cross section throughout the centralportion thereof to provide spaced legs 25 and 26 that respectivelyextend through the openings 22 and 23, and interconnecting the legsalong one side of the bracket is a central panel or latch section 27slidable along the facing surface of the bracket. Slidable along theopposite face of the bracket are a pair of end panels or latch sections28 and 29 respectively connected with the legs 25 and 26. The end panel29 terminates in the aforementioned hook 20, as shown in FIG. 2.

The latch 21 is resiliently biased upwardly toward the book 19 or upperedge 24 of the bracket 18a by a spring which in the embodimentillustrated takes the form of an elongated spring wire 30 secured alongone end portion thereof to the bracket by means of a pair of clips orfingers 31 and 32 struck therefrom in opposite directions, and securedat its opposite end portion to the latch 21 by means of a clip or finger33 struck from the central panel 27 of the latch. It will be observed inFIG. 2 that the hooks l9 and 20 are oppositely oriented and in'the fonnshown face each other, wherefore the spring 30 acting against the latch21 forces the hooks toward each other. The uppermost position which thespring 30 can enforce upon the latch 21 is defined by abutment of theupper ends 34 and 35 of the legs 25 and 26 with the respectivelyassociated termini of the slots 22 and 23.

Along the rear edge 36 of the bracket 18a it is provided with a stop orabutment 37 projecting outwardly therefrom in the same direction as thatof the book 19, and such abutment is adapted to engage the forward faceof the column 11 so as to establish a predetermined position of thebracket with respect thereto. It may be noted that the edges of thehooks 19 and 20 which respectively face the rear surface of the channel11 are inclined or angle slightly so as to accommodate channels having aforward wall or face of various thickness while still confining the sametightly against the abutment 37. In this same reference, the latch 21has an inclined or cam edge 38 also adapted to engage the forward wallof the column 11 so as to wedge the latch tightly thereagainst when thebracket is secured in position along the column 11, as shown in FIG. 2and as will be described further hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a pair of transversely spaced brackets areused to support a shelf 39 thereon, and which shelf in the form shown isa wire shelf constituted of a plurality of longitudinally extendingwires spaced apart transversely and rigidified by transverse componentsextending therebetween and secured thereto. The shelf may be turnedupwardly at its outer end (as shown at 40) to retain merchandisesupported thereon. The shelf is secured to the brackets by means of aplurality of fasteners or clips which may all be identical or may varysomewhat depending upon whether more than one shelf is to be supportedby any particular bracket. Two different types of fasteners areillustrated in FIG. 1, and in FIGS. and 6, and they are respectivelydenoted with the numerals 41 and 42. The essential difference betweenthe two fasteners 41 and 42 is that the first is intended for use at anend of a pier or island or at an intermediate location at which only oneshelf is supported by a bracket, and the fastener 42 is equipped toconnect two successive shelves to a common bracket for support thereby.

The fastener 41 is folded upon itself to provide spaced apart spring orgripper legs adapted to frictionally engage the relatively thin,generally planar bracket 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and such gripperlegs are defined by a generally planar leg 43 that is substantiallycontinuous from end to end thereof, and by a pair of gripper legs 44 and45 respectively located adjacent the opposite end portions of the leg 43for cooperation therewith. The continuous leg 43 together with thespaced apart legs 44 and 45 are adapted to slidably receive a bracket 18therebetween, and because of the inherent resilience of the spring legsthey frictionally grip such bracket to maintain the fastener thereon.

The fastener 41 is also provided with ledge structure adapted to receiveand support a portion of the shelf 39 thereon, and such ledge structuretakes the form of a pair of longitudinally spaced and transverselyextending support fingers 47 and 48 that are generally normal to theplane of the leg 43. Disposed above the fingers 47 and 48 intermediatethe same is a locking finger 49 having a downwardly curved end adaptedto be deformed over the underlying edge of a shelf supported upon thefingers 47 and 48 so as to lock the shelf thereto, as shown in FIG. 1.It will be evident that all of the elements of the fastener 41 areintegral, and that the fastener is formed from a single rectangularblank from which the fingers 47, 48 and 49 are struck, and which is bentinto the generally U-shaped configuration shown to define the gripperlegs 43, 44 and 45.

The fastener 42 is similarly formed from a rectangular blank and issubstantially the same as the fastener 41 except that the uninterruptedleg 43 thereof has an additional pair of support fingers and anadditional gripper finger struck therefrom so as to enable the fastener42 to receive two successive shelves and connect the same to a singlebracket. Thus, at one end of the fastener 42 has spaced apart spring orgripper legs 50 and 51 and, at its opposite end, spaced apart spring orgripper legs 52 and 53 which are adapted to receive a bracket 18therebetween and grippingly engage the same, as shown in FIG. 1. Alongone side thereof, the fastener 42 has ledge structure defined by spacedapart support fingers 54 and 55 which cooperate with a locking finger 56in securing a shelf thereto; and along its opposite side, the fastenerhas spaced apart support fingers 57 and 58 and a locking finger 59cooperative therewith for securing another shelf thereto.

It may be observed that each bracket 18 is provided adjacent the outerend thereof with a stop 60 adapted to be engaged by an edge of thefastener 41 to prevent it from being slidably removed from the bracketby limiting its movement therealong in the outward longitudinaldirection. For a similar purpose, each bracket 18 is providedintermediate the ends thereof with a stop 61 adapted to be engaged by anedge of the fastener 41 associated therewith to prevent it from beingmoved outwardly along the bracket beyond the point of abutment of thefastener with the stop. The fastener associated with the stop 61 is alsoconstrained against longitudinal displacements in the opposite directionby substantial abutment with the free edge of the panel 28 of the latch21.

As a result of such arrangement, any shelf 39 supported by a pair offasteners 41 (or 42) is constrained thereby in their cooperativerelation with the associated bracket 18 against longitudinaldisplacements therealong. In this same reference, the shelf 39 isconstrained against longitudinal displacements relative to the fasteners41 (or 42) in one direction by substantial abutment of the innerterminal edge 62 of the shelf with the support wall 10, and in theopposite direction by substantial abutment of a transversely bent stop63 along each transverse edge thereof with the locking finger 49 (or oneof the fingers 56 or 59) of the adjacent fastener.

In use of the shelf structure, the order of interconnection of thevarious components thereof is not critical but, ordinarily, a pair ofbrackets 18 first will be secured to a vertical column attached to theface of a support wall 10, and this is accomplished by inserting theupper hook 14 of each bracket through an opening 15 in the verticalcolumn 11 or 12 at the desired elevation. The lower hook 20 carried bythe latch 21 is then inserted through another opening 15, and uponrelease of the latch it is displaced upwardly by the biasing force ofthe spring 30 until it engages the edge defining the opening 15 in whichit is positioned. As explained hereinbefore, the abutment 37 togetherwith the inclined edges of the hooks 19 and 20 and camming edge 38 ofthe latch 21 assures a tight, and substantially fixed or relativelyrigid interconnection of the bracket with the column.

It will be evident that each bracket 18 automatically accommodatesspaced openings 15 in a vertical column irrespective of the precisedistance between the successive openings in a sequence thereof since thelatch 21 slidably engages the associated bracket 18 through asubstantial extent, thereby enabling the latch to be displaceddownwardly through a considerable distance, if necessary, to effect suchalignment of the lower book 20 with an opening 15.

Next, fasteners 41 and 42 or a combination thereof (as necessitated byany particular installation) are secured to a shelf 39, and are thendisplaced downwardly into gripping engagement with brackets 18, therearrnost fastener aligned between the latch 21 and abutment 61 and theforward fastener positioned generally adjacent the stop 60. After thefasteners have been so mounted upon the respectively associatedbrackets, the forward fasteners can be displaced forwardly to bring theminto abutment with the stops 60. If a pair of adjacent shelves are to besecured to a single bracket 18, the fasteners 42 are used rather thanthe fasteners 41; and in those instances where a double column 12 isrequired, a pair of brackets will be disposed in side-by-side adjacencyand the fasteners 41 used thereat.

The brackets 18 including the latches 21 thereof and the fasteners 41and 42 are all metal stampings and are, therefore, inexpensivelyfabricated. The wire shelf 39 may be formed by conventional wire bendingand spot welding techniques, and the columns 11 and 12 may beconventional metal channels of generally U-shaped configuration in crosssection, as is most evident in FIG. 3. Where necessary, each column maybe provided at the upper end thereof with a hanger adapted to overlie :1horizontal beam or stringer disposed along the upper edge of the dividerwall of an island or pier, and which stringer affords adequate supportto carry the weight of the shelving and products displayed thereon,whereas in certain instances the support walls 10 of such islands lackthe requisite strength.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention havebeen set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a completedisclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatnumerous changes may be made in such details without departing from thespirit and principles of the invention.

I lclaim:

l. Bracket structure adapted ,to column having a sequence of verticallyspaced openings provided therefor so as to secure a support shelf tosuch column at a selected elevation therealong, comprising a. bracketequipped at the rear end thereof with a .hook extensible through onesuch opening to attach the bracket to such column, a latch carried bysaid bracke't'for generally vertical displacements relative thereto andbeing equipped at the rear end thereof with a hook extensible throughanother opening in such column to further attach the bracket thereto, aspring structure connected with said bracket and latch and operativetherebetween to bias the latter in a direction to cause the hook thereofto lockingly engage such column along the associated opening throughwhich it extends, saidbracket being provided with a vertically extendingslot,- said latch extending through said slot and being slidabletherealong and being urged in the aforesaid direction by the biasingforce of said-spring structure toward a limiting position and beingdisplaceable thereagainst in the opposite direction, said bracket beingprovided with a pair of longitudinally spaced and vertically extendingslots including the aforesaid slot disposed in substantially parallelrelation, said latch having a central section disposed along one side ofsaid bracket and a pair of end sections extending in opposite directionsalong the other sideof said bracket, and said end sections beingconnected with said central section through integral portionsrespectively disposed within said slots and slidably movable therealong;

2. The bracket structure of claim 5 in which said spring structure is anelongated wire connected adjacent one end to said latch and adjacent itsother end to said bracket.

be mounted upon anupright 3. The bracket structure of claim 5 in whichsaid hooks are oriented so as to face in opposite directions.

4. The bracket structure of claim'7 in which said hooks face toward eachother.

5. The bracket structure of claim 1 in which said spring structure is inthe form of an elongated straight wire extending longitudinally along aside of said bracket and latch and retains said latch against a side ofsaid bracket.

6. Bracket structure adapted to be mounted upon an upright column havinga sequence of vertically spaced openings provided therefor so as tosecure a support shelf to such column at a selected elevationtherealong, comprising a bracket equipped at the" rear end thereof witha hook extensible through one such opening to attach the bracket to suchcolumn, a latch carried by said bracket for generally verticaldisplacements relative thereto and being equipped at the rear endthereof with a hook extensible through another opening in such column tofurther attach the bracket thereto, and spring structure connected withsaid bracket and latch and operative therebetween to bias the latter ina direction to cause the hook thereof to lockingly engage such columnalong the associated opening through which it extends, said latch beingprovided with an inclined cam surface therealong between said hooks andengageable with such column to tighten said bracket in engagementtherewith.

7. The bracket structure of claim 6 in which said bracket is providedwith a rearwardly extending abutment intermediate said hooks andengageable with said column independently of said can surface.

1. Bracket structure adapted to be mounted upon an upright column havinga sequence of vertically spaced openings provided therefor so as tosecure a support shelf to such column at a selected elevationtherealong, comprising a bracket equipped at the rear end thereof with ahook extensible through one such opening to attach the bracket to suchcolumn, a latch carried by said bracket for generally verticaldisplacements relative thereto and being equipped at the rear endthereof with a hook extensible through another opening in such column tofurther attach the bracket thereto, a spring structure connected withsaid bracket and latch and operative therebetween to bias the latter ina direction to cause the hook thereof to lockingly engage such columnalong the associated opening through which it extends, said bracketbeing provided with a vertically extending slot, said latch extendingthrough said slot and being slidable therealong and being urged in theaforesaid direction by the biasing force of said spring structure towarda limiting position and being displaceable thereagainst in the oppositedirection, said bracket being provided with a pair of longitudinallyspaced and vertically extending slots including the aforesaid slotdisposed in substantially parallel relation, said latch having a centralsection disposed along one side of said bracket and a pair of endsections extending in opposite directions along the other side of saidbracket, and said end sections being connected with said central sectionthrough integral portions respectively disposed within said slots andslidablY movable therealong.
 2. The bracket structure of claim 5 inwhich said spring structure is an elongated wire connected adjacent oneend to said latch and adjacent its other end to said bracket.
 3. Thebracket structure of claim 5 in which said hooks are oriented so as toface in opposite directions.
 4. The bracket structure of claim 7 inwhich said hooks face toward each other.
 5. The bracket structure ofclaim 1 in which said spring structure is in the form of an elongatedstraight wire extending longitudinally along a side of said bracket andlatch and retains said latch against a side of said bracket.
 6. Bracketstructure adapted to be mounted upon an upright column having a sequenceof vertically spaced openings provided therefor so as to secure asupport shelf to such column at a selected elevation therealong,comprising a bracket equipped at the rear end thereof with a hookextensible through one such opening to attach the bracket to suchcolumn, a latch carried by said bracket for generally verticaldisplacements relative thereto and being equipped at the rear endthereof with a hook extensible through another opening in such column tofurther attach the bracket thereto, and spring structure connected withsaid bracket and latch and operative therebetween to bias the latter ina direction to cause the hook thereof to lockingly engage such columnalong the associated opening through which it extends, said latch beingprovided with an inclined cam surface therealong between said hooks andengageable with such column to tighten said bracket in engagementtherewith.
 7. The bracket structure of claim 6 in which said bracket isprovided with a rearwardly extending abutment intermediate said hooksand engageable with said column independently of said can surface.